Page 49 of His White Moonlight (Dominant CEO Shifter Romance #1)

The houses grew increasingly larger the deeper Milo drove into The District until they couldn’t be called houses anymore. The ostentatious mansions that The District was known for were interesting to see in a spectator kind of way, but were not something I’d ever want to live in.

“There are a few places for sale if you’re interested,” Bennett said, watching me stare.

“I was just thinking the opposite of that. I’d hate living in places like these. They look cold and unwelcoming.”

“Konni lives here. I’ll let him know it’s a mark against him.”

I shot Bennett a look, and he grinned. His teasing smile made my pulse skip and my thoughts drift to last night’s kisses. Ignoring him, I continued to look out the window.

Milo slowed the car and turned into the next driveway, where he pushed a call button. I listened to him give our names and watched the gates slowly open in response.

“What are you going to do if they don’t care?” I asked as Milo drove down the long driveway.

“They’ll care,” Bennett said. “Maybe not today, but they’ll figure it out quickly.”

Bennett’s plan for revenge had started while he still held me earlier today.

After telling Konni that it had been Lindi who’d drugged me, he’d called Lindi and asked if she and her family would be home in a few hours.

He’d said he wanted to speak to her parents about her help the night before and how he wanted to repay her.

She’d quickly confirmed that they would be home and looked forward to welcoming him.

Milo stopped in front of Shane Manor and opened Bennett's door.

“Ready?” Bennett asked.

I nodded. He got out and held out his hand to me. Accepting his help, I stood, enjoying the feel of the pantsuit I wore. The shoes were sensible in that they were flat, not in what they’d cost.

After being discharged, Bennett had taken me shopping. I dripped with money from the earrings in my ears to the silk blouse I wore. Every piece had been carefully selected with the sole purpose of showing my place at his side. And without understanding his plan, I would have never agreed.

Today, we blatantly show her that you can take what she wants. That you have more power than she does. It’ll make her fall more bitter.

I met Bennett’s gaze and smiled as he dropped my hand.

“You make my knees weak when you do that,” he said quietly.

“You’re ridiculous. Stay focused.”

He sighed and turned his back on me. I followed with my head tipped down in subjection…or remorse. It depended on what anyone watching wanted to believe.

Someone opened the door as we approached and invited Bennett in. I trailed behind him until we reached the sitting room, and he stopped.

“Mr. Wulf, welcome,” a man said. “Please, take a seat.”

“Thank you.”

Bennett sat in a chair. I stood beside him. Close, like I’d promised.

Lindi’s parents sat on the sofa, and Lindi took the chair nearest Bennett’s, on the other side of me.

“Lindi filled us in a little about what happened last night. If you’re here to discuss confidentiality, I assure you that we have no intention of speaking publicly about what transpired. This is the girl, I presume.”

I lifted my head and met Lindi’s father's judgmental gaze as Bennett introduced me.

“This is Wrenly Belak, my fiancée.”

Lindi and her parents looked equally shocked.

“You mean ex-fiancée?” Lindi asked.

“Fiancée. And I’m not here to suppress what happened last night. I’d prefer to expose it, but Wrenly suggested I speak to you about your daughter’s part in drugging her last night first.

“The waiter who delivered the wine and the rapist your daughter hired already confessed. We have the transfer records from her decoy company’s account to theirs as well as a recording of your daughter’s instructions.

Her intent to harm my fiancée is inarguably clear.

However, we both know your lawyers will have her sentence reduced to a large fine and minimal jail time, at most. Rather than add to the workload of our lawyers, I thought we could settle this outside of court. ”

Her father’s face had gone from pale to slowly red. Her mother kept glancing at Lindi. Lindi was the perfect model of innocent shock.

“Transfer records? Recording? Why would I want to harm Wrenly?”

I stopped my docile act and set my hand on Bennett’s shoulder.

“Because I have what you want. Power. Money. Respect.”

Lindi scoffed. “Respect? After the way you’ve thrown yourself at men? Please, we both know what you are.”

“My fiancée,” Bennett said again. “And my future wife has told me all about her time at school with you, Lindi—years of being chased, cut, burned, held down… suffocated .”

Shock rippled through me, hearing my own words.

“Tell me you had nothing to do with any of that,” he said.

“Of course I didn’t.”

He leaned forward suddenly.

“Do you even know who I am?” he asked.

She looked genuinely confused for a second. “You’re Bennett Wulf, president and heir to Wulf Enterprises.”

“You forgot the next Alpha to the local pack,” he said.

Lindi looked surprised, but no less interested in Bennett due to his revelation. Her parents didn’t seem upset by the news either. None of them had realized the issue yet, but Bennett quickly clarified for them.

“I can smell a lie better than you can spend your father’s money.

You had avocado toast with an over-easy egg for breakfast, an almond milk latte, and used whitening gel on your teeth before we arrived.

And you have everything to do with what happened to my future wife while she was at that school. ”

Bennett’s gaze pinned Lindi’s father. “Do you need any other proof?”

Mr. Shane was quick to placate Bennett. “No. Thank you for bringing Lindi’s behavior to our attention. We’ll ensure it never happens again.”

Bennett leaned back in his chair.

“It’s escalated past that. Wrenly might not be willing to demand compensation, but I am.”

“Name your price.”

“Your daughter.”

Her father looked shocked. Her mother and Lindi looked elated, though.

“B-but you already said you have a fiancée,” the father said, his gaze flicking to me. “Are you suggesting Lindi become your mistress?”

“Wolves never cheat on their mates,” Bennett said, patting my hand. “I want you to disown your daughter.”

“What?” her mother gasped.

“She’s just a child,” her father said.

“She’s a monster,” I said. “She’s done things that would be considered war crimes in some countries.”

“You have a choice,” Bennett said. “Disown your daughter, cut her out of your lives completely, or watch everything you’ve built slowly crumble.”

Bennett stood and wrapped my hand around his arm.

“Lindi has my number. If I don’t hear from you within twenty-four hours, I’ll assume you’re willing to give up everything for a child no one will touch once they know the truth about her.”

Lindi’s father got scarily red and grabbed his chest.

“No need to see us out,” Bennett said as both Lindi and her mother rushed to Mr. Shane’s side.

Bennett led me out to the car, where Milo was waiting. Once we were inside, he called Konni.

“As of today, I’m blacklisting the Shanes. Call in favors. Whatever you need to do to get investors to start withdrawing.”

“You got it. How’s your princess?”

“Elated,” I said, since he was on speaker phone. “Lindi’s finally going to get a taste of the suffering she deserves. I do feel a little bad for her parents, though.”

“Kids don’t just go bad. They choose to be that way. Either her parents were oblivious or supportive. Bennett’s given them the chance to save themselves. It’s their choice now.”

I glanced at Bennett.

“If you want me to stop, I will,” he said. “But I hope you don’t ask me to.”

“I won’t. I’ll trust you only to punish the people who deserve it and not to take it too far.”

“Good,” Konni said. “Stay elated. I’ve got some calls to make.”

“Thank you for your help,” I said. “With this, the bank records, and convincing the men to talk.”

“Anytime. I owe you, remember?”

I grinned, and Bennett ended the call with a scowl to make another one to Mom and Dad.

“How did it go?” Mom asked.

“As expected,” Bennett said. “I could smell their refusal and don’t expect they’ll abandon her willingly. I’ve already made the call to Konni. We’ll focus on investments first. Once they’re worrying about how to replace their cash flow, I plan to go after their talents.”

“I’ve already let our recruitment officers know,” Mom said. “They’re ready to make offers that will be hard to refuse.”

“Mom, I don’t want to cause Wulf Enterprises any problems,” I said.

“Sweetheart, recruiting top talent is good for the company, not bad. Our offers will reflect their worth, I promise. Now, hurry home. Grandma and I are making dinner for you.”

* * *

I woke up with a sense of anticipation for the day, despite it being a Monday and my chin still hurting like a bitch.

Rolling over, I looked at the empty space beside me and slid my hand across the mattress under the covers.

It was still warm. Slowly, I inched my way over to that warmth and lay in his spot, wondering what in the hell was wrong with me.

I should be telling him to leave me alone…

to leave the situation alone, but I didn’t want to.

And I knew what that meant. He was pulling me in.

“You’re so stupid, Wrenly,” I said softly before throwing back the covers and getting into the shower.

When I emerged, the bed was made, and a new outfit was waiting on it. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of it and the note waiting on the cute halter top blouse.

I think Lindi or her parents might show up today. Wear whatever you think works best for listening to pleading. Mom liked this one, but there are more options in the closet.

Bennett

Wrapped in a towel, I walked to the closet and stared at the new clothes he’d snuck in. I recognized a few as options I’d looked at with Miranda and shook my head, knowing very well she’d sent Bennett pictures of what I’d liked.

“You’re not mad.”

I looked over my shoulder at Bennett.

“No.”